Cellulosic product



Dec. 18, 1962 J. c. BLETZINGER ETAL 3,068,867

CELLULOSIC PRODUCT Filed Jan. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 18, 1962 J. c. BLETZINGER ETAL 3,

CELLULOSIC PRODUCT Filed Jan. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III) III/l fid fil Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3,068,867 CELLULGSIC PRODUCT John C. Bietzinger, Neenah, and Howard A. Whitehead,

Appleton, Wis., assignors to Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 2, 195%, Ser. No. 734,595 4 Claims. ill. 128-285) This invention relates to catamenial tampons and more particularly to positioning indicators for tampon insertion devices associated therewith.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a positioning indicator for tampons having pads of non-cylindrical cross sectional configuration adapted for placement below the cervix in a pro-selected position in respect to the cross sectional pad configuration to insure maximum effectiveness as a fluid absorber.

Another object is to provide a tampon insertion indicator which is sensitive to touch, thus enabling the user properly to position the tampon for insertion without the necessity of viewing the indicator to insure proper positioning.

A further object is to employ the broad concepts taught herein in a manner to provide effective indicators for various types of tampons, such as, for example, an encased type the pad of which is ejected after insertion by a telescopically associated plunger, as well as the type adapted for insertion by a detachably connected rod-like element.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and description, the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 diagrammatically illustrates a tampon of the non-cylindrical type properly positioned in a female body,

FIGURE 2 diagrammatically illustrates the tampon ot' FIGURE 1 properly positioned for insertion into the vagina,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the tampon illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 including an insertion rod with an embodiment of the invention therein,

FIGURE 4 illustrates the cross sectional configuration of an encased type tampon pad requiring correct insertion for maximum eflectiveness,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a tampon inserter rod incorporating the invention with an associated pad fragmentarily illustrated,

FIGURE 6 shows in fragmentary cross section a tampon pad taken along line 5-6 of FIGURE 5 having an inserter rod associated therewith in a manner to prevent relative movement between the rod and pad,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a tampon provided with a cylindrical pad designed for fluid initiated expansion into non-cylindrical configuration,

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of an insertion rod incorporating an alternative embodiment to the invention,

FIGURE 9 is taken along line 99 of FIGURE 8,

FIGURES l0 and 12 show insertion rods incorporating further embodiments of the invention,

FIGURES 11 and 13 are taken along lines 1111 and 13-13 of FIGURES and 12 respectively,

FIGURE 14 shows in perspective a rod type tampon inserter incorporating still another embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 15 shows in perspective an encased tampon of the plunger inserter type with an embodiment of the invention incorporated in the pad housing, and

FIGURE 16 illustrates, largely in axial section, the device of FIGURE 15.

Certain types of tampons include fluid absorbing pads, usually of the compressed type, which are either of a non-cylindrical cross sectional configuration or alternatively are of cylindrical configuration but constructed in a manner to expand, when subjected to fluids, into a noncylindrical shape. In either case, such a tampon, to be most eiiective, must be so held during insertion as to position the tampon pad in the vaginal channel at a position below the cervix with the major longitudinal plane thereof extending transversely of the cervix opening. The present invention is concerned solely with indicators therefor rather than the pad construction per se. While tampons of the non-cylindrical type may be inserted without reference to their ultimate position of rest within the body, optimum fluid absorbency is obtained only when the pad is properly positioned. Tampon pads of non-cylindrical configuration require insertion while held with the major cross sectional axis thereof transverse to the major axis of the vaginal opening. Since such positioning is perhaps opposite to that which the user may assume to be the correct one, the invention is directed to an indicator which will correct any possible misunderstanding the user might have in that regard, and which will provide the user with an elfective touch-sensitive indication of correct insertion positioning even in the dark.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 anatomically illustrate in outline form the manner in which the invention is incorporated in a tampon of the rod inserter type, the details of which are more clearly shown in FIGURE 3. Such a tampon, generically designated 2%, includes an absorbent pad 22, which may be of generally rectangular cross sectional configuration, preferably having arcuate edges. Pad 22 may be constructed of suitable fluid absorbing material such as cellulosic fibers, for example, compressed in a known manner into the pad form shown. It is important, however, that the absorbent material of the resulting pad or batt be sufiiciently compressed not only to render it form-sustaining when dry but to withstand deformation when rotated within a body cavity by means of a partially fluted or flattened rod-like inserter such as is shown at 24, even when removed from a protective wrapper such as shown at 2% and which may be provided to maintain batt 28 sterile prior to use. Rod-like inserter 24 has one end detachably connected to one end of the pad 22 with that end of the rod extending into the pad in pressed fit relation. The rod portion within the pad is fluted or of another non-cylindrical configuration to prevent relative rotation between the rod and the pad. Rod 24 must of course be easily detachable from pad 22 when pulled axially therefrom since the rod serves solely as an applicator for the purpose of insertion. A conventional withdrawal string as and the above mentioned protective cover 28 which may be of polyethylene or the like, sealed about the tampon and preferably removed, along with the insertion rod, after pad insertion, the cover thus serving to facilitate insertion of the pad. The outer end of rod 24 is provided with a flattened portion 36 which provides touch sensitive indication of the relative position of the generally rectangular pad 22 in respect to rod 24, with the major cross sectional axis or" pad 22 disposed parallel to the corresponding am's of the flattened outer end 36 on rod 24.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the user insures proper positioning of the tampon pad by grasping the flat portion 31? of rod 24 between the thumb and finger and with that portion held transversely of the major axis of the vaginal opening, as diagrammatically illustrated by lines 31 in FIG. 2, the pad being thus moved through the vaginal canal to a position of rest against the lower end of the cervix 32, and rod 24 axially withdrawn from pad 22 and discarded. The major transverse axis of pad .fluid absorption results if improperly positioned. Rod 24 may be retractably attached to pad 22 to allow easy withdrawal from the pad while preventing relative rotation therebetween in one of several ways, as illustrated in FIGS, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14.

FIG. 8 illustrates rod 24b provided with a flattened pad engaging portion 34 extending into the pad. In FIG. 10 rod 240 is provided with a pad engaging portion 36 of triangular cross section, while in FIG. 12 rod 240. has a corresponding portion 38 of inverted T configuration in cross section. Rod Me of FIG. 14 is provided with a square end 46 which may be driven into a pad channel of corresponding configuration or into a bore, with the pad material being deformed into a channel of square cross section as the rod is driven into the pad.

. FIGS. 6, 9, 11 and 13 illustrate in cross section the conupwardly as shown when the pad is in the proper position. Rod 240 of FIG. 10 is provided with a pair of nobs 46 or the like disposed in axial alignment to serve the same purpose when similarly positioned. Rod 24a' in FIG. 12 is provided with a painted or otherwise applied dot 48 which may be black or colored to serve the same purpose. Rod 242 of FIG. 14 has an indicator end of semi-cylindrical configuration to provide a flat portion 50 which is held in the position shown properly to align the pad for insertion.

The invention is not limited to incorporation in only the devices above described, and is equally efi'ective when applied to the currently popular encased pad plunger ejected tampons such as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Such tampons include a cylindrical casing 52, one end 54 of which is open. The opposite end of the housing is reversely rolled at 56 to provide a circular aperture for the reception of a cylinder 58, of reduced diameter, the inner end of which is flared at 59 to prevent cylinder retraction from the casing. Cylinder 58 serves as a plunger for the ejection of the compressed pad 61? from its casing 52 after insertion of the casing into the vaginal canal. A withdrawal string 62 is suitably attached to pad 60 and extendstthrough plunger 58, casing 52 and plunger 58 being withdrawn after the pad is ejected, and string 62 extending to the body exterior.

The casing of such a tampon may be of the cylindrical configuration as shown in FIG. 15 if the pad is so constructed as to expand into a non-cylindrical configuration upon fluid absorption, such as for example to expand into the generally oval form shown dotted at 64, FIG. 7. While FIG. 7 shows a rod inserted non-encased compressed pad adapted to expand as shown, the same type of pad may of course be encased and plunger ejected, and in either event proper positioning is mandatory for optimum effectiveness. Since plunger 58 is freely rotatable in respect to casing 52, hence rod rotation is not indicative of pad positioning, the present invention is shown incorporated in the pad casing. Since it is the casing rather than the plunger positioning that'determines 4 the relative positioning of the pad on ejection, the rod end of thecasing is preferably provided with an aperture 70 of a size which is easily detected by the fingers, even in the dark,- and which may extend either completely or partially through the casing 52. With aperture 74 positioned as shown the casing'is properly positioned for insertion. As will be obvious from the above teachings, the position indicating aperture 70 may be replaced with any of the other touch-sensitive or visually detectable positioning devices or indicia shown in FIGS. 8, 10 and 12 at the corresponding casing portion.

Alternately the casing configuration may be of elliptical cross section as shown in FIG. 4, wherein a pad 66, not necessarily of highly compressed fibrous material, is snugly enclosed in casing 68, and upon ejection therefrom retains substantially its encased configuration.

Still other adaptations of the inventive principles taught herein will become readily apparent without departure from the broad concept of providing tampon inserters of various types with positioning indicators as above described, or variations thereof.

We claim:

1. A catamenial tampon comprising an elongate batt of dry compressed fluid absorbent material of generally circular cross sectional configuration, said batt being adapted to expand when wet into a cross sectional configuration having a major axis substantially greater than a minor axis thereof, and direction indicating insertion means cooperatively associated with said batt, said means comprising an elongate inserter, one end portion of which is detachably connected to one end of said batt in a manner to prevent relative rotation therebetween, and said .batt being compressed sufiiciently to permit said batt to be unitarily rotated, when in a dry condition, by said inserter.

2. A catamenial tampon comprising an elongate batt of fluid absorbent material compressed sufficiently to permit the batt, in the absence of an enclosing member, to be physically rotated against substantial constraining force, said batt being provided in one end portion thereof with an axially extending chamber of non-circular crosssectional configuration, and a rigid elongate inserting and positioning element having an end portion of a crosssectional configuration complementing the cross-sectional configuration of said axial chamber and disposed therein in non-rotatable but easily detachable engagement with said batt, whereby said batt may be inserted in a body cavity by means of said element and thereafter rotatably positioned as desired by rotation of said element, with said element thereafter being easily withdrawn from said batt and removed from said cavity.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said elongate insertion element is provided at the free end thereof with touch sensitive means to indicate the position of said batt when inserted within the body cavity.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein a major portion of said elongate inserter element is of generally cylindrical configuration with the free end thereof being flattened to serve as a touch sensitive indicator and the batt engaging end thereof and the axial chamber of said batt are complementarily fluted to prevent relative rotation between said element and said batt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,264,586 Ross Dec. 2, 1941 2,587,717 Fourness Mar. 4, 1952 2,710,007 Greiner et al June 7, 1955 2,845,070 Lewing July 29, 1958 2,879,770 Graham Mar. 31, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 121,844 Australia Aug. 8, 1946 

1. A CATAMENIAL TAMPON COMPRISING AN ELONGATE BATT OF DRY COMPRESSED FLUID ABSORBENT MATERIAL OF GENERALLY CIRCULAR CROSS SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION, SAID BATT BEING ADAPTED TO EXPAND WHEN WET INTO A CROSS SECTIONAL CON- 